Why Virtual Classes are MORE than a Trend and How to Decide if They Make Sense for My Family?

Do you feel like your children are uninspired?

Are your kids bored in school?

Is the program you’ve chosen falling short of your expectations?

Is flexibility important to your family?

Are the changes to mainstream curriculum making you scratch your head?

Is the planning of homeschool lessons for multiple children more than you bargained for?

Are you unsure if you are doing anything/everything correctly?

Do you desire to be a part of your child(ren)’s schooling, but you need assistance?

Have you been looking for a LIVE online Waldorf-inspired program with limited screen time and maximum learning potential?

Are you ready to make some changes to your child(ren)’s educational experience?

Do not worry if you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions. Read on to learn why online schooling is more than a trend. Nowadays there are so many options for homeschoolers and we owe so much to the homeschool families who came before us and paved the way for all the opportunities we have today. What a wonderful time be a homeschooler!

With all the choices, how do you choose what is the best for your family? Even after deciding that a Waldorf-inspired curriculum is right for your family, there are so many MORE decisions to be made! Is there a brick and mortar school near me? Can I afford it? Do I become my child(ren)’s teacher, planning and teaching ALL of the lessons? Do I enlist the help of a hybrid program, such as Lotus & Ivy? Within each of the above categories, there are even more options! Co-ops, classes, online, in-person, music, sports, and the possibilities never seem to end!

Fast forward, and now you’ve decided that you’d like to embrace the Waldorf movement; however, you’re still deciding if an online program can meet the needs of your family. Point blank, online programs are developed to create flexibility in busy lives. Be forewarned, though, not all online programs are created equal. Here are some points to ponder before committing.

How do you know when an online Waldorf-inspired hybrid program makes sense for your family?

1.      When the teacher’s delivery of instruction is LIVE and interactive, “teaching the children in front of them.” Does your students need constructive feedback from a Waldorf-trained teacher? Does your students thrive on interaction with peers? Do you see the value in being a part of student, parent, and/or whole-program communities?

2.      When grownups need help planning and instructing, but still want to play a significant role in the homeschooling. When you’ve decided homeschooling is the best choice for your family and you desire an experienced Waldorf teacher to support the family. This may be the case for families new to Waldorf, families with multiple students, families with working grownups, or families who just want the partnership with a Waldorf-trained teacher.

3.      When a brick-and-mortar Waldorf school is not an option physically, financially, or for other reasons. Many students live in cities where there are no Waldorf schools. The internet allows Lotus & Ivy to bring Waldorf-trained teachers and students from around the globe together. We keep our tuition and class size low to maintain affordability and provide more chances for children to participate in his/her class community.

Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Waldorf education, said, “Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives. The need for imagination, a sense of truth, and a feeling of responsibility—these three forces are the very nerve of education.” At Lotus & Ivy, we take these words to heart, infusing each our lessons with developmental content that reaches the child’s head through the work he/she does with the heart and the hands. Online learning can be as impactful, even more so in some situations, because of the way Lotus & Ivy brings together different geographical areas, origins, and cultures. Lotus & Ivy teachers are not only experts in the area of Waldorf pedagogy, they also bring this world of magical knowledge to life via small, LIVE, online, and interactive classes.

Is it trendy to want the best educational experience for your child?

When selecting an online Waldorf-inspired hybrid program, here are some things to consider:

·        Are the classes LIVE and are the teachers and students interacting in real time? Can students ask questions, laugh with their peers, and does the teacher have the opportunity to build a classroom community? Will my child be able to interact with their peers or just see them on a screen?

·        Are the teachers experienced and trained by an AWSNA-recognized Waldorf teacher training program?

•       Is the curriculum is developed by Waldorf teachers?

·        Does the program have equal focus on math and science as it does on humanities and language arts?

·        Are the teachers and staff available to the family for support and questions outside of class time?

·        Are parent education opportunities available? Is there access to a real person via phone, when you need them?

·        Do the teachers and staff have kind and loving dispositions paired with intelligence and passion for Waldorf education and their specialized grades/subjects?

•       Does the program value its teachers and pay them accordingly?

·        Is screen time carefully considered to foster optimal engagement? Do students look forward to attending class?

·        Are ALL lesson plans are provided by the program for a complete block or class? Is this a program where parents become a part of the learning process without the stress of planning so they may enjoy their child’s wonderment?

•       Is class size small for optimal connection with teachers and peers?

·        Do the program directors realize the importance of diversity and inclusion and the evolving Waldorf curriculum to reflect all children and to meet the needs of the 21st century?

·        Is the program International? Where do the teachers and students live? The makeup of a class community makes for a more diverse learning environment.

•       Is festival life supported through program events for the entire program community?

Making decisions about your child’s education may not be easy. Lotus & Ivy founders, Sarah Barrett and Heather Parrish, took all of these ideals into consideration when developing the Lotus & Ivy concept and when hiring all of Lotus & Ivy’s teachers. They know that online schooling is a wave of the future, not just a trend. Technology is taking Waldorf education places it has never been before. Lotus & Ivy is at the forefront of the evolution of homeschooling. Being a part of the Lotus & Ivy family means being a part of an International community of lifetime learners.